Left-right self-identification and (post)materialism in the ideological space; their effect on the vote in the Netherlands

doi:10.1016/0261-3794(92)90017-Z

Electoral Studies

Volume 11, Issue 3, September 1992, Pages 249-260

https://doi.org/10.1016/0261-3794(92)90017-Z Get rights and content

Abstract

Left-right self-identification appears to be associated in the Dutch electorate with the two dimensions comprising the ‘ideological space’: socio-economic (egalitarian) left-right ad politico-cultural libertarianism-authoritarianism. This study shows the stable two-dimensionality of this ‘space’. Thus, left-right self-identification seems to lack unambiguous content validity. It is only the best predictor of the vote if the parties are ordered according to the mean positions of their supporters on the socio-economic left-right ideological dimension. When the parties are ordered along the other dimension of the space (the libertarian-authoritarian dimension), religion (church attendance) proves to be the best predictor. Religion and authoritarianism prove to be stronger predictors of left-right self-identification rather than social class and socio-economic left-right ideology. (Post)materialism only plays a modest role regarding predicting either the left-right or the authoritarian vote, although this construct overlaps with libertarian-authoritarian ideology (e.g. Flanagan, 1987). Thus, neither left-right self-identification nor (post)materialism seem fruitful approaches to the realm of ideology and values. The results of this study challenge both for example, the Niemöller-Van der Eijk (1987) position on left-right self-identification and the Van Deth-Geurts (1989) position on (post)materialism.

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In evaluating the key finding of this work, some limitations should be considered. First, while the measure used to assess political orientation is well-established in political psychology (Jost, 2006) and has been successfully used in different countries including the Netherlands and Germany (e.g., Bot & Verkuyten, 2018), this self-placement measure might not fully capture the political cleavages that characterize many western societies (Middendorp, 1992). It has been argued, for example, that the left-right distinction can refer to economic or cultural issues and that these two dimensions do not have to correspond (Feldman, 2013).
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Left-right self-identification and (post)materialism in the ideological space; their effect on the vote in the Netherlands

Abstract

Religie en Stemgedrag: een aanpassing en uitbreiding van het model van Niemöller en Van der Eijk

Political Science as no-risk policy

Acta Politica

Value orientation, left-right placement and voting

European Journal of Political Research

Electoral Change in the Netherlands. Empirical results and Methods of measurement

Changing values in advanced industrial societies

Comparative Political Studies

Value change in industrial societies

American Political Science Review

The Silent Revolution

From Class-based to Value-based Politics

Political Realignment in Advanced Industrial Society: From Class-based to Quality of Life Politics

Government and Opposition

LISTEL VI User's Guide